I use triple shocks in my 22-250 because they are explosive on impact, and have a fairly decent BC. I wouldn't recommend them on big game because they don't penetrate and can ruin a lot of meat (hence the grapefruit size entry wound). For animals Caribou sized, I would recommend a more controlled expansion bullet, like the partitions or the interbond, or the Barnes trophy bonded in this case.

I did some research on this bullet and it is controlled expansion for the larger non-varmint calibres and is supposed to retain more of its weight than lead filled counter parts. Check out their site:

http://www.barnesbullets.com

Good info
Thanks CG

Based on the description of the entrance hole on the charging(?) caribou being big enough to stuff a grapefruit into, I'd say the triple shock bullet explosively opened up on impact. That does not sound at all like controlled expansion.

Perhaps .277 caliber is not the diameter at which the bullets are designed for controlled expansion, but are more like the 22 cal triple shocks I use that make the ground hogs disappear. Maybe the design threshold is at a bigger diameter, such as .308 cal.

Something else to consider; sometimes bullets designed for controlled expansion do wierd things when they impact at higher velocities, such as explode on impact. Maybe the non-varmit triple shocks don't do well with impact velocities much in excess of 3,000 fps, which may have been the case for this Caribou. Just something to consider.

I'm not at all sure where the line is drawn between varmint and hunting. But sometimes the loader picks a bullet weight thats unsuitable and helps turn a hunting bullet into a varmint type bullet.

That being said the X bullet in hunting weight is the best bullet I've ever shot or seen shot. It may well shed a petal or all 4 petals depending on speed and what is hit. Those will become secondary projectiles. But the shank remains intact and penetrates. Usually on a straight line.

They are the only bullets I consider for serious hunting. I"ve seen a 400 grain version run into an eland at over 300 yards facing the hunter. The bullet was peeled back totally intact and brought back for me. It weighed 401.7 grains(no doubt it had tissue in places).

I've never seen another bullet do that. Even the partition and I"ve shot a bunch of those.

It will penetrate and it will open everytime down to about 1200 fps or so. I've shot a caribou at 802 yards with a 338 mag and it opened on those shots.

Want the best, you've found it. The Win Failsafe is a pretty good clone also.

The only down side is they can be really finicky to make shoot in some guns.

As to the entry wound, I"ve seen some golf ball sized wounds from using 150s in a 300 mag and an area of hairless hide around that wound about 3-4 inches. But that was way light on bullet weight for the 300 and its speeds. Though I never failed to get total penetration.

I prefer to see the entry and exit wounds about double the bullet diameter is more than enough as long as I can get total penetration.

Jeff

rost
Did you say that you shot a Caribou at over 800 yds??

So theres no big fight over this, yes, 802 rangefinder, witnessed, and verified to be that far by GPS(though the rangefinder is much more accurate).

But remember I'm a competitive shooter out to 1000 yards with iron sights and fire from prone with a sling and used to fire 8000 +/- rounds a year in competition.

Add a scope and a backpack prone and change to a magnum and for me(not for lots of others though) that shot was not complicated. I had no wind to deal with 0-2mph downhill thermals and mirage to verify such the whole time.(the windspeed meter and my drop chart never hurt anything) I had lots of time, and one of my former 4H shooters on the scope as a spotter in case I missed the first shot. Had the situation been different we'd have never tried the shot.

Just one day later he could not find a stable enough rest for a 400 yard shot. We had cover to work with and luckily finally got into a place where prone worked out and he shot his at 300 yards.

You just have to know your limitations.

FWIW, Jeff

Easy there cowboy, I just asked a question. That is a long way for many of us novis shooters and I just wanted to make sure it was not a typo.

Sorry for the diatribe. Usually if I mention that, I'm cussed etc...... So I"ve taken into explaining everything about the shot on any shot I take over 400 yards. Plus it makes folks realize what all is involved to responsibly take a long shot.

Did I mention barometric pressure, altitude, temperature....

Jeff